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2G Just got a 96 TSI AWD bone stock

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wolfyslove

10+ Year Contributor
58
2
Mar 26, 2011
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
I have finally gotten something that I have been waiting to get my hands on for quite some time now. She isn't super pretty and she has the typical rust on the strut towers and rockers, but nonetheless I'm still excited! (I know she is pretty rusty, especially around the wheel wells, but a good deal is a good deal!)

There are a few things that I'm worried about though, but what DSM lover doesn't worry about their car?!

Like I said, this thing is bone stock to the max, stock everything! Radio, interior, motor, trans, clutch, exhaust, turbo, EVERYTHING. I have only drove it for a few miles as I have yet to get my license back and I don't want to get in any trouble and prolong that. But after I drove it for a few miles I opened the hood to find a bit of smoke coming from the passenger side next to all the shift linkage. I was told by the previous owner that the clutch was starting to slip, but the little bit I have drove it, it has never slipped. I don't know a whole lot about transmissions other than I would rather not work on them due to past experiences.

I don't know a whole lot about the 4g63 as this is the only one I've gotten to play with as my last one was stolen from me before I could do anything to it. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, not a dummy, but not someone that is going to be able to swap your motor in a few hours either. I know these cars are very picky and I know they just LOVE the jack stands, but I would like to do a few things with her.

Things I would like to be done: (please leave comments on what your favorite brand is and why, please keep in mind this is also a DD, one step at a time.)

Bigger turbo
FMIC
Fuel pump
Clutch
New set of headlights ( Are the 2ga talon and 2ga eclipse the same?)
Exhaust ( I'd prefer something with a deeper tone to it, not high pitched and raspy)
Cold air intake

That is something to start with, I'll gladly take suggestions based on what you've built! I would really like to learn more about these cars as I've been in love with them ever since I can remember. Also, what is the best way to go about strut tower rust? (Do they make replacements or can you cut one out of another?)

Any advice of any kind is much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Brandon
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uh.... yeah....

Towers look pretty bad, but that is the easy fix.

There is ALOT of metal missing on those rear wheel well sections. Take off the side skirts. Your trailing arms are probably ready to fall off the car. I had a couple 1" holes and ended up removing like 2 feet of metal under the doors. You look like you're missing 12" of metal there. The rear section by the skirt is supposed to go straight across to that large rubber plug (trailing arm bolt access hole). Try and see what the trailing arm side of the large rubber plug looks like. I suspect your trailing arm mounts are in need of replacement. My mounts were fine, it was just the rockers that needed repair. I have some pics in my build thread.

Fix the rust before you worry about any performance upgrades.
 
holy rust batman wow that thing is pretty bad like dolney-53 said i think you would be best getting a clean shell and swaping everything over it would only take a few hundred at very very most 1k to get one and you would be much happier and if your going to pay up to 1k for a shell it will have a few of the upgrades on it that your looking to do im sure such as the exhaust and a fmic possibly i would just keep your eyes peeled while you get the drivers licence figured out and please dont drive it without one your asking for trouble if you do

so you know red cars are the most pulled over cars on the road at least here in mi they are according to hyw patrol and cops are not dumb they know what these cars are and what we do to them ive had several times with the car in my profile pic cops just stop while i was gassing up and say you been racing around in that thing so yeah do your self a favor and dont drive it yet gives you time to get everything worked out with it there is plenty to be done before you should drive it anyhow
 
Congrats on your new car! Yeah it needs a lot of work, but owning a DSM is as much a hobby as it is for something to drive! If you can find a shell and can afford it that may be the way to go unless your a body guy (which I am NOT :( ), that rust is definitely bad. Good luck with your new ride and welcome aboard! :)
 
Thank you everyone for your input! I had originally planned on swapping everything over to a GST spyder so it would be AWD as well, but the floor boards were about to fall off on that thing. It sucks living in Iowa because anything this old is rusted out because no one has ever heard of a garage is suppose. I would love to swap everything to a clean shell (I HATE red) but I only have a 1 stall garage, i would have to strip this thing apart and scrap it. But i wouldn't want to do that until i have a clean shell, any advice on where a clean one is around my area?
 
Yep - I hate to see a DSM die but this one is past saving. I mean, in 50 years when these cars are really rare we'll probably look back on this thread and shake our heads. But unless you want to sit on a rusty shell for 50 years, bid it farewell.

And white is nice! Northstar white, ftw.
 
Swapping to a clean shell sounds like a great idea, but it will cost a lot more money (possibly) than having the rust repaired. I agree with what was said earlier- Fix the rust before you even think about performance.

You have a few LONG term options.

1. Repair the rust, then build the car. If you really hate red a lot, you can get a thorough paint job. This may cost less in the long run than finding a shell, paying for it, then swapping everything over to the new shell. Consider time + money, and I think you'll agree. Keep, restore, build, paint.

2. Leave the car as it is, and enjoy it. Instead of modifying it just now, save your money and find a nice affordable clean GS-T Spyder, and swap it over to AWD. This would cover the price of a paintjob, and rust repair AND would put you in your dream car (so it seems).

3. Repair the rust, modify it and simply learn to love red. :)
 
I'm still torn between what I should do, I have yet to pull the twisties off as i'm afraid i will not be able to get them back on with the rust as it is. I'm thinking about just driving it around and waiting until i find a nice 2gb panda body, but we all know how hard that is. >.<
 
Some of the supporting vendors might be able to help you out with the rust by selling you cut out good sections from parts cars that you weld or have someone else weld in. It's still a big job but if you want it bad enough it's worth it. I would just make sure the rest of the car is worth all the work.
 
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